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Do you prefer 'drones' or 'remotely piloted aircraft?' 'Fighter' or 'Attack' wing? Q&A with 174th commander

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Col. Greg Semmel, commander of the 174th Attack Wing of the New York Air National Guard, answers Syracuse.com reader questions Tuesday in live chat. Lt. Col. Marcia Cole, director of staff, is at left. Col. John Balbierer, vice commander, is at right.
(Michelle Breidenbach)

DEWITT, N.Y. - Col. Greg Semmel, commander of the 174th New York Air National Guard, answered Syracuse.com reader questions Tuesday about the MQ-9 reaper drones operated out of Hancock Field over local skies and remotely over Afghanistan.

One reader asked about the language used to describe the machines, which are unmanned and controlled by pilots on the ground at the DeWitt base.

"All would agree the word drone is a misnomer," the reader said. "What can we do to encourage the press to use the more accurate 'remotely piloted vehicle' terminology?"

Semmel said, "The term remotely piloted vehicle is used to reinforce the fact that there are aircrew in control and continuously flying the aircraft just like any other manned aircraft. The term drone leads you to believe that the aircraft is autonomously operating without aircrew in control."

"Attack" is the term the active duty Air Force has adopted for its units that fly MQ-9s.

In Tuesday's live chat, Semmel responded to a comment about the name change from Ed Kinane, an activist from the group Upstate Drone Action, which protests every week outside the base on Thompson Road. Kinane said "such a re-naming certainly suggests that Hancock's chain of command is brazenly acknowledging its criminality."

Semmel said the name was changed to better align with previously designated attack squadrons in the active-duty U.S. Air Force.

"No matter what the unit designation, the 174th remains vigilant in the rules of engagement and laws of armed conflict that every other manned aircraft in theater follows."

Read the full transcript in the box below.

Live Blog Live Q&A with Col. Greg Semmel, commander of the 174th Attack Wing